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113th Congress sworn in

“Politics is quite brutal,” Cao said in the film as he gave his post-game analysis of his brief stint in Washington. “It’s not about making the right decisions. It’s not about following one’s duty. But it’s more about political payback. It’s more about party loyalty, more than to do things simply because it’s the right thing to do.”

The film, which premiered Thursday night, will broadcast on PBS affiliates nationwide over the next week.

In 2008, Cao beat scandal-plagued Rep. William Jefferson, becoming the first Republican in more than a century who won the seat representing most of New Orleans. He also became the first Vietnamese American to serve in Congress. Hence his nickname: The Accidental Congressman. Two years later, after a tenure that put Cao in the spotlight for issues such as health care and the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, voters overwhelmingly sent him packing and sent a Democrat — Cedric Richmond — to Washington.

Filmmaker S. Leo Chiang, whose documentaries include “A Village Called Versailles,” a look at the Vietnamese-American community’s role in rebuilding post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans, followed Cao throughout his term.

Cao left a Jesuit seminary to enter the world of politics thinking he could make a bigger difference in Washington.

“I thought an easier way to get it done was to become a politician,” said Cao, who couldn’t suppress a chuckle at his thought. “I really did.” Later, Cao added that “the reality of politics is very different than I had hoped.” In fact, on the Election Day when he was defeated, Cao said, “I’m looking forward for it to be over, whether we win or lose. It’s like waiting to see your dentist before you’re about to get your teeth pulled.”